Dmitry Markov: Gray Brick Road

By Russian law, in the event that a father fails to perform his duties – sending his child to school and applying for disability status – he may be restricted in his parental rights and his child may be taken into state custody. Unfortunately, the system does not provide disabled people with daily care and support at home to alleviate this problem. Nonetheless, there are non-profit organizations and individuals in the city who have taken over these functions. In general, this is a commentary on the status of socially disadvantaged groups in Russia, where private groups are often forced to fill in when the state has fallen short.

The social exclusion of disabled people is an important issue, and a difficult one to overcome in Russia. On one hand, most people don’t consider a disabled person as being on equal footing. People donate money to feel good about “solving the problem”, but they do not think about the depth or complexity of the situation. Discussions of human rights to work and education are presented only as abstract and immaterial concepts, when in fact they are fundamental to the well being of any person, disabled or not. On the other hand, people with disabilities are not particularly keen to change this. Ruslan, who grew up in a wheelchair, does not seek self improvement. He does not look for work or to advance his education. These prevailing attitudes only help to position disabled people as victims. Self perpetuating, they do not address the root causes of, or fundamental solutions to, the social stigmatization of disabled people.

This story’s focus is on the relationship between a father and son who are living in very difficult and limited circumstances. It is not intended as a study on poverty or marginalized communities (the tragic background of Vitya and Ruslan’s situation only reinforces the impression that we should care). But what can we say about a man who has lived 40 years in a wheelchair? I think Ruslan’s case can only be discussed in the context of his basic rights and the appropriate level of social support. However, in respect to his son, Vitya, we can expect some progress. Increasingly in the city, there are new services for people with disabilities. Society is gradually learning to accept these people and, as with Rostock and the other aid organizations, we just have to keep moving in the right direction. Perhaps the changes are not so significant for each individual case, but eventually we will reach a fundamental shift. If we keep working things will begin to change.

One of the major problems for Ruslan is that most of the city’s spaces are not accessible. Daily, he has to travel 10-12 kilometers from his home to the city market, crossing railways, and finding himself up against obstacles such as pavement, curbs and potholes.

With some help from volunteers, Ruslan managed to get temporary social housing. Vitya has been cleared for school and passed the medical disability check-up. The main result of the support shown is that the family has been preserved.

Ruslan’s hand-driven wheelchair. Vitya spends most of the way in his dad’s lap.

Most of the city market folk know Ruslan, and have been helping him and his son for a number of years by putting together some groceries and small amounts ofMoney for them.

By Russian law, in the event Ruslan fails to perform his duties (sending his kid to school, applying for disability status) he may be restricted in his parental rights and required to take Vitya to an orphanage. Unfortunately, the state system does not provide people like Ruslan with daily care and support. Nonetheless, there are non-profit organizations and individuals in the city who have assumed these functions.

Sometimes Ruslan visits the church. The parish and priest are always ready to help this father and son.

Ruslan’s house burned down a few years ago; today, he is living in a shabby hut in the outskirts of town. There is no water supply, sewers, or central heating.

This fall, the guardianship authorities took Vitya away and placed him in a shelter. Ruslan could sue against the decision, but then he would have to deal withHis son’s school preparation routines and medical check-ups on his own. In conditions of no accessibility he physically cannot visit a doctor on the third floor ofthe clinic. Therefore, Ruslan had to sign the consent because, otherwise, he could have been charged with limiting the child’s rights to education.

In the state structure, there are several institutions and experts involved with this family to certain extents. However, almost all of them have supervisory or inspectional functions, and provide no support services.

Currently, Vitya spends his weekdays at school and at the shelter, and goes home with his father for the weekends. Ruslan comes to the shelter almost daily to see his son in the yard.